Fisherman wary as Windalco restock Rio Cobre

Fisherman Wayne Williams stood on the banks of the Rio Cobre last Friday and watched as a team of persons, including representatives from UC Rusal, released in excess of 8,000 tilapia seed stock into the river.

Almost 11 months ago, in July 2022, Williams and several other persons who depended on the Rio Cobre for a living saw their world turned upside down following a massive fish kill. It was determined that the fish kill was due to a chemical spill from Windalco's effluent holding pond.

"It was horrible, and you know the pain of it? Is to see your lovely enjoyment die, it was horrible. And the stink from it not nice," Williams said as he reflected on the fish kill.

About 100 fishers receive compensation for the fish kill after the National Environment & Planning Agency (NEPA) drew down on the $117-million environmental performance bond from UCRusal, owners of the bauxite production company Windalco.

Williams said that while being are grateful for the compensation, the money pales in comparison to the financial losses as well as the impact of the chemicals on the environment and their bodies.

"Up til now many of us have scratching on our skin same way, and people who are troubled by sinusitis and all dem things; dem have bad effect up until now, due to the amount of chemical [that] come down in the water. It's not even good to think about it," Williams told THE STAR.

Following the fish kill, UC Rusal was issued with a permit to restock the Rio Cobre with no more than 30,000 tilapia seed stock. A condition of the permit is that an environmental freshwater expert be engaged to undertake environmental assessments prior to, during and after the restocking activity. In excess of 8,000 tilapia seed stock were introduced to the Rio Cobre last Friday. The variety of tilapia introduced consisted of black perch, red tilapia and rocky mountain.

National Fisheries Authority said that the bigger fish will reach maturity within four to six months, while the younger ones will be ready in about 10 months.

Williams said that he has been assured by a Windalco representative that the company has taken various steps to ensure a spill never happens again. Williams said he does not know whether to believe the bauxite company.

"Oh my God, we hope that what they said is perfectly right," he said.

Windalco said it takes the protection of the environment seriously and continues to work with communities and regulators to protect the nation's watershed.